It is not new to us that a variety of dog and cat food contains salmonella bacteria. In the past, dry pet food has been recalled frequently because of food poisoning directly linked to salmonella bacteria found in the pet food.

A new study directed by Dr. Caset Barton Behravesh from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that when people come in contact with their pets and places where they reside, such as their food dish, their bed, playing ground, they put themselves at risk for infection. The study highlights the fact that approximately 23,000 tons of dry dog and cat food were immediately recalled between 2006 and 2008. And more than 100 different dry pet food companies and manufacturer attributed to those recalls.

The study also found that the risk of people coming in contact with salmonella bacteria is 4 times higher when pet food is kept inside the house or in kitchen. Salmonella bacteria has the ability to survive several weeks in a dry environment and several months in water, and it can rapidly spread from the food and can build up specially when pet bowls are not cleaned.

This is the first study to recognize the dangers pet food recalls have on humans as well. The study also follows on the heels of another pet food recall that occurred just last week. The study has been published in the journal Pediatrics.

The study suggested the idea of washing your hands after you fed your pets or once you get in contact with any pet in general. In the past years, there are lots of health incidents related to salmonella bacteria, mostly with children, the elderly, as well as people with weak immune systems. The study has been published in the journal Pediatrics.